u/stayhyderated22

guys I’ve done it all!! I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 and noticed it in my inability to focus in classrooms but I could always get stuff done (medicated) at home. However, when I got to college I found it much more difficult to remember to do things, even if I really wanted to do them. Here are the things I have done that have really changed my life:

1. I really struggle waking up in the morning before my meds kick in so even taking them without falling back asleep is hard. I sleep with my pillbox in my bed with water directly beside me. It minimises the risk as much as possible. When I’m dating someone, I often ask them to wake me up to give me my meds so I can fall back asleep and wait for them to kick in.
2. I also sleep with my planner in my bed so that I look at the planner instead of random shit on my phone. I find it pretty hard to even remember my name most mornings so it really helps me set my intentions or at least remember 2-3 important things to do.
3. I also don’t remember any of the things I have done that I have successfully completed, both large and big things. Every day I write down what tasks I did in my notes app so I am aware that I am making progress and am not just floating aimlessly through time and space.
4. Everything showers twice a day 🌟 I cannot do a morning routine sequentially. I don’t know what it is, but I do something different every time. Like I put my socks on and then brush my teeth and then stop to do something else and then I don’t remember to do the rest until way later in the day. So I just keep all of my face wash, toothbrush and etc in my shower so I can just do it all in one go. For me, it has made a huge difference.
5. One thing I do in the kitchen is use a pour over coffee maker. The time it takes for the water to boil, I can usually do the dishes and pick up my kitchen. Crazy how quick you can do it under the timer. It's like last minute procrastination for me.
6. I really struggle with interrupting people in conversation and an insane trick I learned is crossing your fingers if you need to say something and the other person is still talking. People with ADHD often want to blurt out the thought to “get it out” often to not forget it. Doing something small and unnoticeable (someone suggested crossing their toes) helps your brain acknowledge what you want to say. This helps not only give your brain a pause so you can better regulate when you speak but also remember what you wanted to say.

I still struggle with this but it has really helped me.

guys I’ve done it all!! I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 and noticed it in my inability to focus in classrooms but I could always get stuff done (medicated) at home. However, when I got to college I found it much more difficult to remember to do things, even if I really wanted to do them. Here are the things I have done that have really changed my life:

1. I really struggle waking up in the morning before my meds kick in so even taking them without falling back asleep is hard. I sleep with my pillbox in my bed with water directly beside me. It minimises the risk as much as possible. When I’m dating someone, I often ask them to wake me up to give me my meds so I can fall back asleep and wait for them to kick in.
2. I also sleep with my planner in my bed so that I look at the planner instead of random shit on my phone. I find it pretty hard to even remember my name most mornings so it really helps me set my intentions or at least remember 2-3 important things to do.
3. I also don’t remember any of the things I have done that I have successfully completed, both large and big things. Every day I write down what tasks I did in my notes app so I am aware that I am making progress and am not just floating aimlessly through time and space.
4. Everything showers twice a day 🌟 I cannot do a morning routine sequentially. I don’t know what it is, but I do something different every time. Like I put my socks on and then brush my teeth and then stop to do something else and then I don’t remember to do the rest until way later in the day. So I just keep all of my face wash, toothbrush and etc in my shower so I can just do it all in one go. For me, it has made a huge difference.
5. One thing I do in the kitchen is use a pour over coffee maker. The time it takes for the water to boil, I can usually do the dishes and pick up my kitchen. Crazy how quick you can do it under the timer. It's like last minute procrastination for me.
6. I really struggle with interrupting people in conversation and an insane trick I learned is crossing your fingers if you need to say something and the other person is still talking. People with ADHD often want to blurt out the thought to “get it out” often to not forget it. Doing something small and unnoticeable (someone suggested crossing their toes) helps your brain acknowledge what you want to say. This helps not only give your brain a pause so you can better regulate when you speak but also remember what you wanted to say.

I still struggle with this but it has really helped me.

guys I’ve done it all!! I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 and noticed it in my inability to focus in classrooms but I could always get stuff done (medicated) at home. However, when I got to college I found it much more difficult to remember to do things, even if I really wanted to do them. Here are the things I have done that have really changed my life:

1. I really struggle waking up in the morning before my meds kick in so even taking them without falling back asleep is hard. I sleep with my pillbox in my bed with water directly beside me. It minimises the risk as much as possible. When I’m dating someone, I often ask them to wake me up to give me my meds so I can fall back asleep and wait for them to kick in.
2. I also sleep with my planner in my bed so that I look at the planner instead of random shit on my phone. I find it pretty hard to even remember my name most mornings so it really helps me set my intentions or at least remember 2-3 important things to do.
3. I also don’t remember any of the things I have done that I have successfully completed, both large and big things. Every day I write down what tasks I did in my notes app so I am aware that I am making progress and am not just floating aimlessly through time and space.
4. Everything showers twice a day 🌟 I cannot do a morning routine sequentially. I don’t know what it is, but I do something different every time. Like I put my socks on and then brush my teeth and then stop to do something else and then I don’t remember to do the rest until way later in the day. So I just keep all of my face wash, toothbrush and etc in my shower so I can just do it all in one go. For me, it has made a huge difference.
5. One thing I do in the kitchen is use a pour over coffee maker. The time it takes for the water to boil, I can usually do the dishes and pick up my kitchen. Crazy how quick you can do it under the timer. It's like last minute procrastination for me.
6. I really struggle with interrupting people in conversation and an insane trick I learned is crossing your fingers if you need to say something and the other person is still talking. People with ADHD often want to blurt out the thought to “get it out” often to not forget it. Doing something small and unnoticeable (someone suggested crossing their toes) helps your brain acknowledge what you want to say. This helps not only give your brain a pause so you can better regulate when you speak but also remember what you wanted to say.

I still struggle with this but it has really helped me.

guys I’ve done it all!! I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 and noticed it in my inability to focus in classrooms but I could always get stuff done (medicated) at home. However, when I got to college I found it much more difficult to remember to do things, even if I really wanted to do them. Here are the things I have done that have really changed my life:

1. I really struggle waking up in the morning before my meds kick in so even taking them without falling back asleep is hard. I sleep with my pillbox in my bed with water directly beside me. It minimises the risk as much as possible. When I’m dating someone, I often ask them to wake me up to give me my meds so I can fall back asleep and wait for them to kick in.
2. I also sleep with my planner in my bed so that I look at the planner instead of random shit on my phone. I find it pretty hard to even remember my name most mornings so it really helps me set my intentions or at least remember 2-3 important things to do.
3. I also don’t remember any of the things I have done that I have successfully completed, both large and big things. Every day I write down what tasks I did in my notes app so I am aware that I am making progress and am not just floating aimlessly through time and space.
4. Everything showers twice a day 🌟 I cannot do a morning routine sequentially. I don’t know what it is, but I do something different every time. Like I put my socks on and then brush my teeth and then stop to do something else and then I don’t remember to do the rest until way later in the day. So I just keep all of my face wash, toothbrush and etc in my shower so I can just do it all in one go. For me, it has made a huge difference.
5. One thing I do in the kitchen is use a pour over coffee maker. The time it takes for the water to boil, I can usually do the dishes and pick up my kitchen. Crazy how quick you can do it under the timer. It's like last minute procrastination for me.
6. I really struggle with interrupting people in conversation and an insane trick I learned is crossing your fingers if you need to say something and the other person is still talking. People with ADHD often want to blurt out the thought to “get it out” often to not forget it. Doing something small and unnoticeable (someone suggested crossing their toes) helps your brain acknowledge what you want to say. This helps not only give your brain a pause so you can better regulate when you speak but also remember what you wanted to say.

I still struggle with this but it has really helped me.

Hi, I struggle with depression, anxiety and ADHD and have had depression for over ten years possibly on and off. I felt in a good mood today and felt like sharing some things that make my life easier. I'm not a professional and a lot of these are things that help me, so they might not help everyone.

1. Laundry separators if you keep throwing clothes on the floor. One side for dirty, one side for clean or worn but not yet dirty like jeans or pjs.
2. Making your bed makes your room look a lot cleaner. Even if you just pull the comforter over all the scrunched up sheets.
3. Dryer sheets freshen up drawers, laundry bins, and trash bins. If you dust with dryer sheets it also freshens the whole room and keep dust off things longer.
4. Dry shampoo if you physically can't get in the shower but feel worthless for having messy hair.
5. Mouth wash is a good quick replacer if you keep forgetting to brush your teeth or just can't.
6. I only get paper bags at the grocery store and use them for empty cans. (I live in a state where you get money for returning them) And also sometimes bedside trash bags.
7. Getting dressed helps me feel less like I wasted another day. Even if I finally get around to getting out my pjs at 5pm.
8.  try to keep a nice stash of food and drinks in my room. Trail mix and Powerade are my favorites to keep in my room. Try to follow any routine. I try to follow an anchor + novelty routine, where the anchor is going outside in the morning and evening and doing a journal. It makes me grounded, and novelty is something we can change daily, like a morning walk, sunbathing, or doing outdoor exercise. im using Soothfy App for this
9. I found this self care printable back in college and I've had it on my wall ever since.

Hi, I struggle with depression, anxiety and ADHD and have had depression for over ten years possibly on and off. I felt in a good mood today and felt like sharing some things that make my life easier. I'm not a professional and a lot of these are things that help me, so they might not help everyone.

1. Laundry separators if you keep throwing clothes on the floor. One side for dirty, one side for clean or worn but not yet dirty like jeans or pjs.
2. Making your bed makes your room look a lot cleaner. Even if you just pull the comforter over all the scrunched up sheets.
3. Dryer sheets freshen up drawers, laundry bins, and trash bins. If you dust with dryer sheets it also freshens the whole room and keep dust off things longer.
4. Dry shampoo if you physically can't get in the shower but feel worthless for having messy hair.
5. Mouth wash is a good quick replacer if you keep forgetting to brush your teeth or just can't.
6. I only get paper bags at the grocery store and use them for empty cans. (I live in a state where you get money for returning them) And also sometimes bedside trash bags.
7. Getting dressed helps me feel less like I wasted another day. Even if I finally get around to getting out my pjs at 5pm.
8. I try to keep a nice stash of food and drinks in my room. Trail mix and Powerade are my favorites to keep in my room.
9. I found this self care printable back in college and I've had it on my wall ever since.

hygiene:

• can't handle a shower, but feel gross? use a wet wipe wherever u need and you'll feel a lot better
• greasy hair? dry shampoo or just stick your head into the sink, feels good ngl
• if you feel disgusting - clean clothes help a lot, even if you haven't showered in weeks you will feel clean
• brushing teeth for 10 seconds is better than not at all + get a little plastic tongue scraper - a quick tongue scrape helps a lot
• get a deodorant that you actually like and you don't have to only put it on your armpits - wherever you get nervous about the smell just slap some on and yeahh nice smell
• if you feel bad about constantly having dirt under your nails - any nailpolish will hide it. i clean my damn nails almost daily and they're still dirty, nail polish makes me feel less filthy

depression meal inspo:

• overnight oats
• scrambled eggs with ketchup
• jam on toast
• soup
• joghurt with cornflakes
• instant ramen (of course)
• toast with ketchup
• couscous with frozen vegetables
• bread and sliced vegetables with hummus
• basically just add condiments you like on anything plain and eat eggs because protein is good

other tips:

• if you're in bed and can't get up start by trying to move some part of your body, if you can move your thumbs try moving more and more until you can get up
• write a diary, trust me, it's really really helpful. i use daylio and even if i just tap the moods and write 2 words it's worth it
• stretch all the damn time, it feels good!!
• untense your neck and unclench your jaw, please
• you don't have to clean your whole room at once, if you only have energy to pick up one piece of trash, pick up one piece of trash
• cute stickers as rewards!! whenever i planned out t shots, doctor appointments or showers in my bullet journal i gave myself a sticker for surviving it and hell yes it feels nice to look thru my cute stickers and stick one on
• Try to follow any routine. I try to follow an anchor + novelty routine, where the anchor is going outside in the morning and evening and doing a journal. It makes me grounded, and novelty is something we can change daily, like a morning walk, sunbathing, or doing outdoor exercise.
• any easy craft you find interesting you should try making, even if it's stupid or childish, do it, it will feel nice

that's all I can think of rn, soooo pls share your tips as well!! :))))

stay safe!!

I wrote this as response to someone else asking for studying tips for people with ADD/ADHD, and thought I ought to post the answer here as well. Since I'm dyslectic and English being my second language, I do apologize for the inevitable grammar/spelling mistakes. But without further ado:

Since I have both ADD + dyslexia some things listed might not apply to you.

• Precursor: Medication: This has made it possible for me to have the energy to keep up with the work. And not completely crash in to a comatose after a couple of days work. I know some people are vary of this, and to each their own. But I've gone from a student with F in almost all subjects (with the exception of Math and English), to an almost straight A student. And I couldn't have done it without medication, contrary to some belief. What most people seem to forget is that all ADD/ADHD is not equal. There's a big difference between the severity for each individual, thus saying one ought or ought not use medication is a useless debate if you're not the persons psychiatrist. (This also applies to possible side effects).
• First, For the distraction: One thing I've learned early on is to accept that since I'm both impulsive and easily distracted by the environment. I wont get any studying done in an environment which promotes the two. Thus when I study, I don't do it at home for the most part. But I'll leave the house and go to the library and or the school and try to find as remote a room as possible.
• Secondly: I leave my phone in other room during my study (I usually set it to 25 minutes). Thus when I start a pomodoro-pass the only thing I'll do is to study. However and this is important! When I feel like I can't continue (Notice that I didn't say if! :D), and that too I'm tired. I simply just sit still, stare at the wall or close my eyes for a minute or two, but I won't stop the timer. Because most often after 2-3 minutes of this, I'll get bored and continue studying. And it helps feeling a bit guilty for not studying while the tree is still growing! hehe :)
• Third: I have snacks with me for small boosts of energy. As Dr. Russell A. Barkley pointed out in the lecture (ADHD: Essential Ideas for Parents), our brains are one of two organs which use sugar as an energy source. However this does not mean you ought to eat plenty. For example I take Dextrose-Energy tablets once and hour or after each Pomodoro, and throughout the day I'll eat fruits etc.
• Fourth, and this is for reading: When I read things, the text gets all jumbled up and so the meaning gets lost in translation. But instead of reading a passage over and over again. I noticed that when I wrote down everything on paper while reading it. The text became more coherent and I could easily find when I started to jumble up the text. Since what I was writing didn't make any sense!!! Yes this takes (3x) as long. However so does re-reading a text over and over + I don't get as easily bored.
• Fifth: Let's say you have a lecture in biology, philosophy or what have you. And it's about an hour long on YouTube or something akin to it. What I've found to be a good hack, is open like 5 different lectures on the same topic. So when I get that deep feeling of unease that I can't continue. Instead of stopping completely, I'll open up another lecture. And eventually I'll have watched 5 instead of none!
• Sixth: Break down the task: Since procrastination is also largely due to emotion regulation. Whenever I'm presented with a large assignment I get the so called "Ostrich effect" of wanting to bury my head in the sand and pretend that it isn't there. Therefore when I get a big assignment, I will just read the questions and take a day or two (if I have the time) to ponder the questions. And try to think how I might be able to break down the tasks into smaller steps. I.e Today or this Pomodoro pass I will write a sentence or two.
• Seven: Try to follow any routine. I try to follow an anchor + novelty routine, where the anchor is going outside in the morning and evening and doing a journal. It makes me grounded, and novelty is something we can change daily, like a morning walk, sunbathing, or doing outdoor exercise. I use the Soothfy app for this.
• Lastly: Remember to treat yourself as a reward when finishing a task. The reward can be whatever you choose. But it's good to then have bigger reward for instance at the end of a semester.

For example: If I can complete this year without failing a subject I will buy myself a (X).

However "If don't succeed", I will forgive myself and be happy that I did my best! So let's buy a (Y) instead, or simply go on a nature hike or whatever floats your boat.

P.S: I would love it if any of you wrote back to me if any of my tips helped. But also if you want me to elaborate more on a point.

Hello everyone,

Nothing dramatic. No 5 am routines or “changed my life overnight” stuff. Just boring little habits that i added.

• I stopped reacting immediately. Messages, comments, even bad news. Pausing for a few minutes saved me a lot of unnecessary stress.

• I keep my phone out of reach while working or eating. Not off. Just not in my hand. Huge difference.

• I started finishing the smallest task first. Making the bed, clearing one email, washing one dish. Momentum matters more than motivation.

• I stopped over-explaining myself. A simple “no” or “I can’t” is enough most of the time.

• I go outside every day, even if it’s just 5 minutes. Sounds silly, but it resets my head better than scrolling.

• I realized watching random content while tired wasn’t relaxing at all. so i choose sleeping more than any hack I tried.